Zoysia macrantha plant named ‘MAC03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Zoysia macrantha  plant named ‘MAC03’, characterized by its faster speed of growth, stronger plant density, broader leaf width, broader thickness of stolon internode and a longer stolon length.

Latin name of genus and species or plant claimed:

Zoysia macrantha.

Variety denomination: ‘MAC03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct vigorous-growing perennial variety of Zoysia macrantha, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘MAC03’. Its market class is that of a turf grass. ‘MAC03’ is intended for use as a lawn grass in gardening, landscaping, sports fields and amenity horticulture including coastal areas with exposure to salt.

The new Zoysia macrantha cultivar is a seedling selection discovered in a controlled planting of Zoysia macrantha wild forms, not patented. These selections were originally collected from coastal areas of NSW, Australia including Central Coast and Wollongong. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of plants of Zoysia macrantha designated ‘T11’ during summer 2006-2007 in a controlled environment at Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. ‘T11’ was the result of a previous five generations of selections based on fast speed of growth and overall turf habit (strong density, rapid ground coverage) from 2000 to 2005. The result of the final selection from the ‘T11’ generation was greatly improved growth rates more suited to lawn use.

‘MAC03’ was first asexually propagated by cutting and division of stolons in 2007 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. ‘MAC03’ has since been further asexually propagated by means of cutting and division of stolons. The distinctive characteristics of the variety have remained stable and true to type through successive cycles of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘MAC03’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zoysia macrantha plant:

-   -   1. Fast speed of growth; and     -   2. Strong plant density; and     -   3. Medium tolerance to salt; and     -   4. Broad leaf width; and     -   5. Broad thickness of stolon internode     -   6. Long stolon length

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the Zoysia macrantha parent ‘T11’ and wild forms from coastal areas of NSW, Australia including Central Coast and Wollongong primarily in having a faster speed of growth, stronger plant density, broader leaf width, broader thickness of stolon internode and a longer stolon length.

‘MAC03’ is the first cultivar of the Zoysia macrantha species.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘MAC03’ has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted on 5 Oct. 2007 under Application No. 2007/275.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘MAC03’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘MAC03’ plant in soil grown for approximately 14 weeks in an outdoor environment showing strong plant growth density and spread of stolons.

FIG. 2 illustrates the plant growth habit of a 24 week old ‘MAC03’ plant grown in a 200 mm pot compared to the parent ‘T11’ and wild forms.

FIG. 3 illustrates ‘MAC03’ stolon and inflorescence detail compared to the parent ‘T11’ and wild forms.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of an Zoysia macrantha ornamental plant known as ‘MAC03’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from February 2008 of mature ‘MAC03’ plants grown in nursery pots in greenhouse and outdoor growing areas with day temperature ranging from 25° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 15° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Plants were grown for about 24 weeks with one plant per 20 cm container. Plants were trimmed 10 weeks before assessment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘MAC03’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Zoysia macrantha cultivar ‘MAC03’. -   Parentage: Parents — Zoysia macrantha breeder code ‘T11’. -   Propagation: Type — Asexual propagation of cuttings from stolons and     divisions of plants.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The description of the variety below is taken from a pot trial conducted in the Summer 2007-2008 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Plants were six-months old at the time of observation.

-   Plant characteristics: Vigorous-growing perennial, stoloniferous     grass, culms decumbent, habit prostrate becoming erect when     flowering. -   Stolon: Roots at nodes, length long to very long (mean 40 cm)     internode length (4th from tip) medium (mean 29 mm), diameter of     internode broad (mean 2 mm), color of internode when exposed to     sunlight grayed purple (RHS 187A), diameter of node medium to broad     (mean 2.6 mm), branching medium, subtended by a leafy sheath with     length 16 to 24 mm. -   Leaf: Attachment cauline, length long (mean 96 mm), width broad     (mean 3.8 mm), color of blade green (RHS 146B), leaf veins parallel     and obscure, shape ligulate, cross section flat, apex narrow acute,     leaf margin entire. -   Ligule: Ligule is a fringe of hairs, not prominent. -   Awns: Absent. -   Inflorescence: Spike-like single raceme, length medium to long (mean     52 mm), color yellow green (RHS 147B). -   Glumes: Predominant color grayed purple (RHS N186C), length 3-4 mm. -   Lemmas: Color approximately grayed purple (RHS N186C), length 4-5     mm. -   Stigma color: White (RHS 155D). -   Cultural notes: ‘MAC03’ has been observed to survive to a cold     temperature of −5° Celsius. ‘MAC03’ has been tested for heat     tolerance to 44° Celsius and survived in Brisbane, Queensland,     Australia. ‘MAC03’ has an average tolerance to salt in coastal     conditions, typical of the species. ‘MAC03’ grows well in sandy loam     and heavy clay soil conditions. ‘MAC03’ has good shade tolerance     with normal growth at 50% shading. ‘MAC03’ competes well with     invasive weeds. It produces roots well when being stolonised, and     transplants well as sod. -   Disease resistance: ‘MAC03’ has no known disease susceptibilities     and is considered typical of the species for pest and disease     tolerance.

COMPARISON TRIALS WITH OTHER VARIETIES

A comparative trial was carried out including ‘MAC03’, ‘T11’ (unpatented, parent), ‘Terrigal ecotype’ (unpatented) and ‘Wollongong ecotype’ (unpatented). These comparative plant selections are not commercial varieties of common use and were used in the trial as they are the nearest known plants for comparison and found in some Australian coastal ecosystems.

The results of the comparison trials are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. In summary:

-   -   ‘MAC03’ has stronger plant growth vigor than ‘T11’, ‘Terrigal         ecotype’ and ‘Wollongong ecotype’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has longer stolon length than ‘T11’, ‘Terrigal ecotype’         and ‘Wollongong ecotype’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has a broader stolon node diameter than ‘T11’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has a broader stolon internode diameter than ‘T11’,         ‘Terrigal ecotype’ and ‘Wollongong ecotype’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has a longer leaf length than ‘T11’, ‘Terrigal ecotype’         and ‘Wollongong ecotype’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has a broader leaf width than ‘T11’, ‘Terrigal ecotype’         and ‘Wollongong ecotype’.     -   ‘MAC03’ has a longer inflorescence spike than ‘Wollongong         ecotype’.

The comparison trials and results are described in more detail below.

The comparative trial was conducted in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia in Spring 2007 to Summer 2007-2008. ‘MAC03’, ‘T11’, ‘Terrigal ecotype’ and ‘Wollongong ecotype’. were compared. Individual stolons were taken from open beds, and were then planted in 200 mm pots filled with soiless potting mix. Nutrition was maintained with slow release fertilizers, which were added at the time the Zoysia were potted. The plants were grown in full sun in the open, with irrigation. All plants were trimmed equally 10 weeks before assessment. The pots were 24 weeks old at the time of trial. The trial design consisted of thirty pots of each variety arranged in a completely randomized design. Measurements were taken in February 2008. The results are shown in Table 1 (descriptive data) and Table 2 (statistical data) below.

TABLE 1 Terrigal Wollongong Organ/Plant Part: Context MAC03 T11 ecotype ecotype Plant: habit stoloniferous stoloniferous stoloniferous stoloniferous Plant: vigour strong to very medium to medium weak to strong strong medium Stolon: length long to very long medium medium short to medium Stolon: diameter of node medium to broad medium medium Stolon: internode length medium medium medium medium Stolon: internode thickness broad medium medium medium Stolon: colour when exposed to sunlight 187A 187A 187A 187A Leaf blade: shape ligulate ligulate ligulate ligulate Leaf blade: length long medium to medium medium long Leaf blade: width broad medium medium medium Leaf blade: colour 146B 146A 146A 146A Leaf blade: apex narrow acute narrow acute narrow acute narrow acute Leaf blade: attitude horizontal to horizontal to horizontal to horizontal to semi-erect semi-erect semi-erect semi-erect Leaf blade: proifle in cross-section flat flat flat flat Inflorescence: lenth of spike medium to long medium to medium medium long Inflorescence: length of peduncle medium medium medium medium Inflorescence: anthers present present present present Penduncle: colour (RHS) 147B 147B 147B 147B Glume: predominant colour (RHS) N186C N186C N186C N186C

TABLE 2 Stolon: length Mean 40.40 cm 20.70 cm 18.60 cm 15.00 cm Standard. Deviation  6.50 cm  3.50 cm  4.00 cm  3.00 cm Lsd/signiflcance  7.06 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 P < = 0.01 Stolon: diameter of internode Mean 1.95 mm 1.34 mm 1.44 mm 1.40 mm Standard. Deviation 0.40 mm 0.20 mm 0.20 mm 0.20 mm Lsd/significance 0.32 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 Stolon: diameter of node Mean 2.60 mm 2.04 mm 2.23 mm 2.40 mm Standard. Deviation 0.60 mm 0.40 mm 0.30 mm 0.30 mm Lsd/significance 0.48 P <= 0.01 ns ns Leaf blade: length Mean 96.30 mm 6.90 mm 43.70 mm 53.20 mm Standard. Deviation 11.90 mm 23.30 mm 13.40 mm 13.40 mm Lsd/significance 17.72 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 Leaf blade: width Mean 3.80 mm 12.92 mm 12.71 mm 3.10 mm Standard. Deviation 0.70 mm 0.20 mm 0.50 mm 0.30 mm Lsd/significance 0.49 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 P <= 0.01 Inflorescence: length of spike Mean 52.20 mm 49.90 mm 45.50 mm 40.10 mm Standard. Deviation  3.90 mm  4.90 mm  4.70 mm  9.60 mm Lsd/significance  7.10 ns ns P <= 0.01 where ns = not significant difference; P <= 0.01 = significant difference 1% level 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Zoysia macrantha plant named ‘MAC03’, substantially as herein shown and described. 